Direct speeches

English Grammar: Direct and indirect speeches narration

Through this app, we can learn how to learn direct and indirect speeches. It is a great opportunity to learn English grammar.

IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

· In Imperative sentences, reported speech contains a command, order, request, advice or proposal, etc.

· Verb in the reporting speech is changed according to the mood of the reported sentence. The imperative mood is changed into an infinitive mood.

· Comma and inverted commas are removed using the word 'to'.

· In negative sentences the word ‘Do not’ is removed and in its place ‘not to’ is used.

· The words ‘Sir or Madam’ in the reported speech are removed and the word ‘respectfully’ is added in the reporting speech.

· The words ‘said to’ in reporting speech are changed into the words given hereunder according to the sense contained in the reported speech.

ORDER

· In such cases, the reported speech contains order and mostly the reported speech starts with the first form of the verb.

· The words ‘said to’ in the reporting speech are replaced by the word ‘ordered’.

· Coma and inverted commas are replaced by the word ’to’.

· For a negative sentence 'Do not' in the reported speech is removed and in place of inverted commas 'not to ' is used.

For Example:

The teacher said to the boys, “Leave the room at once.”

1. 'Leave', being the first form of the verb, shows the 'order' mood of the sentence.

2. Words 'said to' in reporting speech will change into 'ordered'.

3. Inverted commas will be replaced by 'to'.

4. The teacher ordered the boys to leave the room at once.

REQUEST

1. In such cases mostly the reported speech contains the word ‘Please/Kindly’.

2. As the reported speech contains a request, the words ‘said to’ in the reporting speech are changed into 'requested'.

3. Coma and inverted commas are replaced by the word ‘to’.

4. The word ‘Please/Kindly’ is removed without any word in its place.

NEGATIVE SENTENCE:

1. In negative sentences Reported speech contains 'Please do not.

2. In these sentences 'Do not' in the reported speech is removed and in place of inverted commas 'not to ' is used.

For Example:

· The boy said to his friend, “Please lend me your book.”

· The boy requested his friend to lend him his book.

· The son said to his father," Please do not go to the office today.

· "The son requested his father not to go to the office that day.

ADVICE

1. If the Reported Speech contains advice, the words ‘said to’ in the Reporting Speech are changed into 'advised'.

2. Coma and inverted commas are replaced by the word ‘to’.

NEGATIVE SENTENCE:

For a negative sentence 'Do not' in the reported speech is removed and in place of inverted commas 'not to ' is used.

Interrogative Sentences

Rule 1

· When an interrogative sentence is meant to ask questions, then reporting verb said/said to is changed to asked.

· We change Said to into enquired or demanded

Rule 2

· When a question is formed with the help of any of the helping verbs like is/are/am, was/were, has/have, do/does, will/would, etc then ”__” are to be replaced by if or whether

· When the question is formed with the help of words starting with “Wh” like who, whose, what, whom, when, etc (also known as W family) or How then to replace ”___” no conjunction is used.

Rule 3

· In such sentences question form of the sentence is removed and a full-stop is put at the end of the sentence.

· The Helping verb is /are/am, was/were, etc should be put after the subject in a sentence.

· When the interrogative sentence is expressing positive feelings then do/does of the Direct speech is removed while converting it into Indirect speech in a sentence.

· When the interrogative sentence is expressing negative feelings then do/does of the Direct speech is changed into did while converting it into Indirect speech in a sentence.